Ornamental button



Mal'ch 1931- F. G. PURINTON' 1,797,519

ORNAMENTAL BUTTON Filed March 29, 1930 mgr/11ml Irzmi G.P,u2;ini'on,

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES ronnnsr G. romiv'ron, or WATER/BURY, CONNECTICUT, AssiGNon 'ro 'rma rarnnr PATENT OFFICE BUTTON COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- ORNAMENTAL BUTTON Application filed March 29, 1930. Serial No. 440,022.

' My invention relates to new and useful improvements in ornamental buttons, and has for an object to provide a metal button that will simulate in appearance a glass or porcelain button but, at the same time, will not crack or break if run through a mangle after the same has been applied to a dress or other garment. I

Still another objectof the invention is to .10 provide a button made preferably of aluminum so that the same will be relatively light in weight and to so enamel or paint the same y spraying that it will be highly ornamental and may have any one of various designs in color formed thereon, so that the samewill blend with the color of the d ess or other garment to which the button is to be applied.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a metal button that is practically un- 0 breakable, relatively light in weight and provided on its outer surface with ornamentation, so that only under the closest inspecion may the same be distinguished from a ,lass or porcelain, or other type of breakable button.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a button preferably formed of aluminum consisting of a relatively thin shell,

the outer surface of which will have several.

layers of paint'or enamel thereon in fanciful or geometrical designs, the button being then lacquered so that it will have the appearance of a glass or porcelain button. At the same time, the button may be much thinner than the ordinary glass or porcelain but-' improved ornamental button on a greatly exaggerated scale for the sake of clearness; Fig. 2 is an edge view ofthe same and also'greatly enlarged;

Fig. 3 is a' sectional view of the button; Fig. 4 is a rear plan view; I Fig. 5 is a modified form showing a concave-shaped button;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the A drawings, it might be mentioned at the outset that the several views show the button on a greatly exaggerated scale, as otherwise it would be impossible to show the various layers of paint or enamel that are sprayed on the button.

In Figs. 1 and 2, there-may be seen a but ton 1 that is preferably formed of aluminum although, of course, buttons formed of other metal, such as stainless steel or zinc, might be used". The button, before being completed, is of a usual type, that is, it comprises the depressed hub 2 and the rim 3, while openings 4 may be formed in the bottom of the button through which the thread will be passed. I do not wish to limit myself to the actual shape or formation of the button, as butclons of'other styles and types might be use After the button has been formed to its desired, shape, the same is pr'eferably placed on a receptive mount, so that the rear face 5 may be coated, which is generally done by spraying, and this coat of paint or enamel may be a dark gray or any other desirable color. After this has been thoroughly baked, the button is reversed and a coat ofv white paint or enamel 6 is carefully sprayed over the entire outer surface of the button to form the background. Y v

In the several figures, these coats of enamel have been greatly exaggerated, but simply for the purpose of illustration, and they should not be mistaken for metal or other coverings.

The coating 6, as before mentioned, should preferably be of white. After this coating has thoroughly dried, there is placed a metal stencil (not shown) over the top of the button, so that a portion of the top surface will be covered when the button is again subjected to an enamel-spraying operation.

In the button used as an illustration, and as may be seen in Fig. 1, a stencil is placed over the button so that a layer of enamel 7 may be superimposed and arranged around the but ton in the form of scallops while little triangular portions 8 will also appear.

This superimposed coating 7 may be blue or green or any other desired color which, when placed, on the white background will form a design, which may be fanciful, geometric or, in fact, of any desired configuration. Now, after this superimposed coating has been stenciled on the button, a coating of lacquer L (enamel), which may be seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing, is applied to the entire upper surface of the button, which gives a lustrous gloss to the button, simulating in appearance a glass or porcelain button and, at the same time, the lacquer serves to seal and protect the decoration on the background.

In Figs. 2 and 3, for the sake of illustration, I have shown the two layers as having depth and in Fig. 3, I have shown the lacquer L (enamel) as having depth, so that it appears as if there were raised portions on the button, but it will be understood that the entire top is very smooth and the elevation on the drawings simply shown to distinguish the background and the superimposed colors in places.

In Fig. 5, showing a slightly modified form, there is illustrated a button 9, which is concave in form and has the depending hub 10, and this button is likewise to be made either of aluminum or other metal and will have first a background 11 formed on its concave surface, which should be white, while the rear face of the button may have a coating 12 which may be a cheaper or duller enamel. The button is then positioned, as shown in Fig. 6, and a stencil applied, so that a further spray of enamel 13 of a different color may be applied to form the little scallops around the edges, while the little triangular portions 14 are similar in all respects to the form shown in Fig. 1. In the same way, the entire top surface is then lacquered (enameled) to produce a brilliant gloss and seal the decorative coloring.

When the white coat 11 is sprayed on the face of the button, it will be noticed that it will extend down even into the holes 15 of the button, so that no metal whatever will show. By thus coating the inner walls of the holes, the idea of simulating a glass button is further carried out.

Of course, the design may be changed at will in theforming of these buttons-by using a different stencil, but it might be mentioned here that the contrasting colors should be applied to cover a substantial area rather than just a point, for instance, as when spraying this contrasting color on over a stencil, the opening in the stencil must be large enough to make sure that the contrasting color will pass through the opening and ,so cover. the desired places on the but-ton. In other words, lines and areas should be covered rather than merely points.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that by using a relatively light, thin button formed of metal and coating the same on the rear and then coating the same on the front face or top and then superimposing a color or colors in certain places and spots, and then lacquering (enameling) the same, I have produced an I ornamental button that closely simulates in appearance a glass or porcelain button and, at the same time, may be run through mangles and rolls when on dresses without in any. Way affecting the button.

Furthermore, I can make the button much a thinner in cross section than the ordinary agate or glass or porcelain button which must, of necessity, be relatively thick and rather cumbersome or gross in appearance.

It will be understood that the words enamel and lacquer are used in their broadest sense to convey the idea of a lustrous coat.

As is well known, the word enamel is a broader term and may cover either the oilbase or air-drying coatings. The oil-base materials depend upon the oxidization of the oil for hardening and are called japans or bakin enamels, while the air-drying materials depend solely upon the evaporation of the solvents and the natural characteristics of the gums for their hardness, and these materials are called lacquers or lacquer enamels.

Lastly, it will be understood that the draw ings show the button on a greatly exaggerated scale, so that the background of paint and a superimposed layer of paint may be understood from the drawings although, in reality, the surface of the button is as smooth in appearance as the ordinary form of glass or porcelain button, as generally made in Czechoslovakia.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A metal button comprising a head and a hub, the undersurface of the button being coated, the outer surface of the button being painted or enameled to form a background, and a superimposed paint or enamel of distinguishing colors on portions of the upper surface of the button and a coatingof enamel to thereby simulate a glass or porcelain button.

2. A metal button comprising a head and a hub, the entire outer surface of the button being enameled to form a background and to simulate a button of the easily breakable type, a superimposed coating on the portion of the said background to thereby formulate a de-' sign and simulate in appearance a breakable type of button.

3. A non-breakable button formed of metal, the'top-surface of the button being coated with a lacquer to simulate abutton formed of breakable material, and a superportions of said background to thereby form a button of ornamental design, and a coating of enamel to give the button a lustrous aption applied to said obverse surface coating and enameled thereon.

11. A button consisting of a metal body, a

surface coating applied to the obverse surface and ornamentation applied to predetermined areas of said surface coating and enaeled thereon whereby the exposed surfaceof the coating and the ornamentation produce a homogeneous design,

In testimony whereofl afix my signature.

FORREST G. PURIN TON.

pearance and simulating a glass and porcelain type of button.

5. A button formed. of relatively thin metal, the obverse surface of the button being coated with a lacquer, a superimposed coating of colored lacquer to form an ornamental design and a coating of lustrous lacquer so that the button will simulate a colored glass or porcelain button.

6. A button formed of relatively thin metal, the reverse side of the button coated to hide the metal surface, the obverse side of the button coated with a lacquer, superimposed colors at reoccurring places on the background to thereby form an ornamental design, and a coating of lacquer whereby the button will simulate a colored glass or porcelain button.

7. A button consisting of a metal body, a surface coating applied to the obverse surface and'ornamentation applied to said surface coating and lacquered thereon, and a coating of lacquer over the obverse surface.

8. A button consisting of a metal body, a coating applied to the reverse surface thereof, a coating applied to the obverse surface, and ornamentation applied to said obverse surface coating, and a coating of lacquer to set, the ornamentation.

9. A button consisting ofa concavooonvexed metal body, a-coating applied to the reverse surface thereof, a coating of material different from that of the first-mentioned coating appliedto the obverse surface of the body, and ornamentation applied to said obverse surface coating and enameled thereon. Y

10. A button consisting of a metal body, a coating applied to the reverse surface thereof, a coating of material difierent from that of the first mentioned coating a plied to the obverse surface of the body, an ornamenta- 

